NBA veteran Jason Collins is the first active NBA player to openly reveal his homosexuality, but he's not alone in the NBA world.

Collins discussed his sexuality in a Sports Illustratedarticle published Monday: “I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay.”

The news has reverberated throughout the professional sports landscape, and one NBA executive was particularly happy to hear the news. Serving as the president and chief executive of the Phoenix Suns at the time, Golden State Warriors president Rick Welts came out two years ago in a New York Times article and has since operated as the highest-ranking professional in American sports to be an openly gay man.

Following Monday's news of Jason Collins, Welts spoke about the issue at the Warriors practice facility. Welts' most poignant observation?

“Society is way ahead of sports on this issue, and I think today, we came closer to catching up."

Warriors President Rick Welts discusses Jason Collins coming out.

A large step for sexuality

In the New York Times article published May 2011, Welts was quoted as saying, “This is one of the last industries where the subject is off limits. Nobody’s comfortable in engaging in a conversation."

Said Welts, in front of a crowd of reporters on Monday afternoon:

He came through as very authentic. He came through as very, very genuine. He is somebody who didn't have the benefit of somebody going forward in the same situation to learn, to watch, to see how people would react. It takes a man of great courage to do what he did today. I'm happy for him, because he's going to be able to be the complete Jason Collins every day for the rest of his life.

Part 2 of Rick Welts conversation.

Still a polarizing topic

The conversation has sparked debate on Twitter.

The dialogue has been mostly supportive of Collins, as evidenced by a tweet from Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, who two years ago was fined by the NBA for his on-court use of a homophobic slur.

The importance of Wallace's tweet is that it underscores the misunderstanding of homosexuality in the professional sports world and is indicative of how others may react in a shared locker room.

The Warriors president called these all learning moments and important steps to grow an understanding of the topic.

Welts said that since he announced his sexuality, he has had zero problems within the macho environment of the NBA. He said that of the thousands of people who reached out to him after he came out, he didn't receive one truly negative sentiment.

Part 3 of Rick Welts conversation.

Welts said Monday that his decision then was made in hopes that it would also make it easier for others to be open about who they are. He said Collins' choice to step forward will hopefully do the same for others.

Monte Poole, a columnist for the Bay Area News Group, followed Collins during his time at Stanford and spoke to the significance of this moment and what it may mean going forward: